Best 10 Countertop Burners (Electric Stoves) For Any Kitchen

Have you been trying to find the best countertop burner that provides powerful performance?

Then you are in the right place!

In the next few segments, you can find my short reviews of the 10 best models on the market. Check them out, compare their designs, features, and prices, and choose the best one.

The Rundown

Countertop Burners: Are They Really Designed For Countertop?

Yes. These appliances are powered by electricity or gas and meant for indoor kitchen use. Such models have well-designed and stable bottom so they are secured on the countertop during the cooking. However, gas burners can be used only in professional kitchens where the safety standards allow such usage.

Why Would I Want A Countertop Burner?

It can be beneficial in many aspects and can easily boost your kitchen productivity, as well as expand your meal prep capabilities. Here are some of the advantages of buying such a model.

Affordability
These models can be both cheap and expensive as they go from $30 to a couple of hundreds of dollars.

Portability
The good thing about them is the fact that they are easy to move and store thanks to their size which ranges between 7 inches and 12 inches. Perfect for RV’s countertop too.

Fast Heating Operation
These models are designed to heat up fast. Electric models take up to 7 minutes to boil water, while gas models 4 minutes. For comparison, classic kitchen stoves need about 10 minutes to do that.

Easy To Clean
Countertop models are rather easy to clean as they only have a few burners. Modern hot plates, for example, are even easier to clean. They feature a flat surface that only needs a wipe to be cleaned, while classic burners need to be cleaned with a toothbrush and by using a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

Burners For Countertop: Private vs. Commercial Models

These may be specific models, but they come with quite standard functions which, at the end of the day, do meet your needs. Here are specifications you must consider based on the planned use.

For Home Use

These are smaller models than commercial ones, plus, such models are powered by electricity, unlike commercial burners which are mostly powered by gas.

• These models offer you 3 different methods of cooking. Classic cast-iron burners simply use electricity to heat up and cook, induction cooktop uses electromagnetic waves to turn your cookware into their own heating source, and the infrared process uses coils and lamps to transfer the heat to cookware.
• In the terms of which cooking operation is the best, we would recommend you an infrared countertop burner. This model doesn’t require special cookware as induction does, it isn’t expensive, and can boil water in less than 4 minutes, while a classic electric hot plate needs up to 7 minutes.
• These models can have between 500 and 3,500 watts of power. That depends mostly on the number of burners they have. When a hot plate has more than one burner, the total wattage power is divided amongst them.
• From 150 to 480 Fahrenheit degrees is the usual range for those burners. The range is divided into up to 15 levels so you can find the most suitable one for your desired cooking operation.

For Commercial Use

Unlike electric models, gas models can be used indoors only on the countertops of professional kitchens. Plus, they do come with high power which is suitable for the needs of a business.

• Gas models use an open flame to cook. Their cooktops have exposed coils and they heat up really quickly, in about 4 to 5 minutes.
• These models use natural gas as power. Most usually, that gas is propane or butane.
• BTU power depends on the number of burners a commercial model has. Usually, they have somewhere between 7,000 BTU and 100,000 BTU. This power range is far more powerful than ones for home. For example, 7,000 BTU equals 2,052 watts. Thanks to that, gas units are excellent for professional cuisines.
• The temperature range is almost identical as with electric burners, only commercial ones have heat levels up to 500 Fahrenheit degrees.

Burner Appliance For Countertop Use: Other Specifications

Many specifications of both electric and gas options vary from one product to the other, and they mostly depend on your preferences and needs. Here are some specifications you must bear in mind while looking for the best model for your home or business.

High-Quality Design

If you want your burner to last, it needs to come with sturdy construction. Most units that are designed like this are made of stainless steel or some other strong metal material such as cast iron.

Weight Capacity

The amount of pounds each model can hold depends on the cooktop and its construction. Burners with glass or ceramic cooktops such as infrared and induction burners, can hold up to 7 pounds. Cast iron burners are suitable for 50 pounds of weight. Some commercial models can withstand up to 150 pounds, depending on the model.

Burners: Singles, Doubles, Triples

Models that feature single or double burners are ideal for home use. In the terms of commercial models, burners that have double, triple, or more cooktops are suitable for professional use.

Cookware Compatibility: Check What You Can & Can’t Use

Electric, gas, and infrared burners are compatible with any type of cookware. Induction burners, on the other hand, are compatible only with flat bottom cookware that features a magnetic bottom surface.

Best 10 Countertop Burners

Cuisinart Tabletop Burner

Cast Iron Plates
This electric tabletop unit comes with 2 heavy-duty cast iron plates. They feature exceptional durability and high heat conductivity. The larger one offers 1,300 watts of power while the smaller one offers 500 watts. Both provide very quick heat-up and great cooking results.

Separate Controls
Each burner comes with its own, independent controls. Thanks to this feature you will be able to cook versatile meals at the same time. Also, you don’t have to worry about the unit moving around thanks to rubber feet.

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Elite Cuisine Two Burner

Variable Temperature Control
This is another double burner hot plate we reviewed in this post. Each burner comes with its temperature controls with 7 different levels. Thanks to this feature you can use it both to cook and to keep your food warm. Both burners combined have 1,500w of power.

Versatile Compatibility
The great thing about this countertop 2 burner electric stove is that it is compatible with versatile dishware. This includes ceramic pots, stainless steel pots, glass pots, frying pans, aluminum pans, teapots, casserole pots, etc. The burners are made of highly conductive cast iron to ensure that you easily achieve perfect results.

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Rosewill 12-Inch Cooker

Crystal Plate Surface
This countertop induction cooktop features a polished A-grade crystal plate cooking surface. It is highly scratch-resistant and requires very little maintenance. You can use it with versatile cooking pots and pans that are between 4.7 and 10.2 inches in diameter.

Versatile Controls
The best thing about this model is that it comes with versatile controls and pre-programmed cooking options that require low and high temperatures (like warming up milk or using hot pot). It comes with 8 different power and temperature settings and 3 timer settings.

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Oster Single Hot Plate

Simple Design
This electric single burner hot plate features a very simple design. It comes in a somewhat smaller, compact size thanks to which you won’t have any trouble finding the perfect place for it atop your countertops.

Multiple Options
Like all listed models, this countertop single burner electric stove also comes with multiple cooking options. Its 900-watt motor provides powerful and even heat distribution all over the cooking plate. As a result, you will easily achieve perfect cooking results.

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Cusimax B101 Hot Plate

Powerful & Portable
This portable countertop stove provides a very powerful cooking performance. Its burner is compatible with versatile dishware and offers 7 different thermostatically controlled heat settings. Due to this feature, you will be able to cook your meals and keep them warm once cooked.

Safe To Use
You can be sure that this 1,500 watt unit for cooking is perfectly safe to use. It comes with an automatic shut-off feature that keeps the burner from overheating.

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True Induction 3-Burner Hot Plate

3 Separate Burners
As its category implies, this model comes with 3 separate burners. It uses a power supply of 3,300 Watts and offers independent controls. You can install it into your countertops or use it as a countertop model you can easily move around.

Dishware Compatibility
If you want to use this 3-burner countertop cooktop, you need to pay attention to the dishware you are using. It is compatible only with cookware that offers magnetic bottoms. To achieve the best results, use flat-bottomed pots and pans with a 4.5 to 10-inch diameter.

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APW Wyott Commercial Plate

Commercial-Grade Design
This commercial countertop cooktop is entirely constructed out of high-quality stainless steel material. It provides it with the needed durability and high resistance to versatile exterior damages. Its heating element is 7-1/2 inches in diameter and provides infinite temperature controls.

Venting Holes
You can be sure that this commercial electric heating plate can withstand the high demands of professional environments. It comes with built-in venting holes that dissipate the excess heat from the machine and keep it from overheating.

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Dulong Griddle Hot Plate

Cooking Surface
As opposed to the rest of the listed models, this commercial unit looks more like a countertop grill/griddle design. Its cooking surface features a half flat and half grooved design and is suitable to cook versatile meals at once.

User-Friendly Features
The great thing about this countertop stove with a griddle is that it comes with versatile user-friendly features. It comes with splash guards that ensure mess-free performance, a built-in drip hole, and grease pan, “power” and “ready” indicator lights, front-mounted temperature control knob, etc.

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Ovente BGI101S Infrared Countertop Burner

Heat Distribution
This infrared tabletop burner provides very powerful and even heat distribution throughout its cooking surface. Its simple temperature control knob allows you to set and adjust the desired temperature level. As a result, you will achieve safe and perfect cooking results with every use.

Safety Features
You can be sure that this burner is perfectly safe to use. It comes with bottom non-slip feet that provide it with the needed stability when placed atop the countertops.

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Proctor Silex Mini Hot Plate

Small Size
This is another model that comes in a somewhat smaller size. Its single burner size makes it easy to use and carry around. Its bottom drip pan is made out of stainless steel material and is very easy to clean.

Restricted Use
Although this small tabletop electric stove is generally safe to use, it does come with some restrictions. It should not be used longer than 60 minutes in 2 hours. Its built-in light indicator informs you when the burner is on while its bottom non-slip feet keep it stable atop the countertop surfaces.

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Stability & Security: Key Safety Factors Of Any Countertop Burner

Since these models are made for indoor use, they come with many features, besides the rubber feet, that ensure that your new countertop model is safe for using and handling. These are classic features such as safety lock, automatic shut-off, and overheating protection.

Are There Some Using Restrictions?

There may be, yes. Some models shouldn’t be used longer than 60 minutes in 2 hours, while others can be used continuously for up to 2 hours. This all depends from one model to the other, so read the manual and instructions.

Remove Nearby Flammable Materials

Countertop burners may be ideal for indoor use, however, they still are a possible fire hazard. Just use it at the distance from other materials and appliances.

Number 1 Rule: Do Not Leave A Burner Unattendant

No matter how much you trust your appliance, never leave it unattended. When it is not in use, turn it off. These small actions are the most important ones for safety.